O.C.’s Vietnamese community reacts to former Supervisor Andrew Do’s resignation and plan to plead guilty to conspiracy

In Orange County’s Little Saigon enclave, former Supervisor Andrew Do’s resignation has left some community members feeling betrayed.

Do, who was one of the state’s highest-ranked Vietnamese American politicians, resigned Tuesday from the O.C. Board of Supervisors and agreed to plead guilty to a federal bribery charge. His crime: Conspiracy to steal millions of dollars meant to feed needy seniors.

“Mr. Do and his co-conspirators stole money from the poor,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, who called the conspiracy “Robin Hood in reverse” at a news conference in Santa Ana on Tuesday.

Westminster’s Little Saigon is home to the largest concentration of Vietnamese people outside of Vietnam, and the corruption scandal has rippled through the community.

“A sense of betrayal and regret for him, for his family. I myself feel really sad for his family,” said Nelson Nguyen, the vice president of the group Vietnamese Community of Southern California. “It could have been different. He could have left a great legacy.”

One of Andrew Do’s attorneys, Paul S. Meyer, said in a statement Tuesday: “Out of respect for the legal process, no statement is appropriate at this time. However, it is appropriate to convey Andrew Do’s sincere apology and deep sadness to his family, to his constituents in District One and to his colleagues.”